The Wisconsin River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the state of Wisconsin in the United States. At approximately 430 mi (692 km) long, it is the state's longest river. The river's name, first recorded in 1673 by Jacques Marquette as "Meskousing", is rooted in the Algonquian languages used by the area's American Indian tribes, but its original meaning is obscure. French explorers who followed in the wake of Marquette later modified the name to "Ouisconsin". This was simplified to "Wisconsin" in the early 19th Century before being applied to Wisconsin Territory and finally the state of Wisconsin.
Industry began to form on the Wisconsin in the early 19th Century, as loggers started using the river to raft logs downstream from northern forests to sawmills in new cities like Wausau. By the 1880s, logging companies were damming the river to ensure the river had enough capacity for the logs being floated downstream. Later, at the start of the 20th Century, more dams were constructed to provide for flood control and hydroelectricity. The dams also spurred tourism, creating reservoirs such as Lake Wisconsin that are popular areas for recreational boating and fishing. Today the Wisconsin is impounded in 26 places and has been called "the hardest-working river in America."
Hardest working river in America
There are 25 active hydroelectric plants along the Wisconsin River. In addition, there are 21 reservoirs in the Wisconsin River system used to moderate water levels.
Kings Dam is the fourth hydroelectric plant from the north, I knew of Kings Dam because I have heard fishermen talking about fishing for Walleye below the dam in spring. Below the dam Walleye fishing is open all year.
I never knew the location of Kings Dam, (to tell the truth I never spent much time looking) but today when Timberline Echoes and I were finding Worldserver's caches on Kings Road we decided to do a little exploring. While we were exploring the dam and I was looking for a place to hide a cache David (the caretaker) came out of the office and approached us. We talked about the dam, about geocaching, and about the river. David knows of the cache and gave permission for me to hide it.
(Permission given by David,caretaker of Kings Dam)